Board game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A game apparatus comprising a playing board having a plurality of paths of playing positions associated with markings of different colors and arranged thereon with groups of major and minor playing pieces for each opponent, each group being visually distinguishable from the other groups for movement on the playing board according to a specific rule of play and according to a roll of three dice, two of which are colored to correspond to the markings of various paths of playing positions on the board with the third die having its respective sides numbered from one to six in the usual manner. The playing positions are arranged in parallel peripheral paths connected by a transverse path which includes a central circular group of positions.

United States Patent Clark, Jr. Mar. 14, 1972 [54] BOARD GAME APPARATUS I Primary ExaminerDelbert B. Lowe [72] Inventor ET ZL Box Sugar- Attorney-Pravel, Wilson & Matthews [22] Filed: Nov. 7, 1969 [57] ABSTRACT [21 1 Appl. No.: 874,779 A game apparatus comprising a playing board having a plurality of paths of playing positions associated with markings of different colors and arranged thereon with groups of major and ((IIII. "273/134 AD, minor playing pieces for each opponent, each group being [58] Fie'ld 273/134 visually distinguishable from the other groups for movement on the playing board according to a Specific rule of play and [56] Reerences Cited according to a roll of three dice, two of which are colored to correspond to the markings of various paths of playing posi- UNITED STATES PATENTS tions on the board with the third die having its respective sides numbered from one to SIX m the usual manner. The playing 1,595,906 8/1926 Mlller-fl --273/134 AD positions are arranged in parallel peripheral paths connected 2,549,708 4/1951 AC by a transverse path which includes a central circular group of 2,658,760 11/1953 Brost 273/134 AD positions 3,414,264 12/1968 Schriber.. ...273/134 AD 3,433,483 3/1969 Ellis .273/ 1 34 AD 6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures )3A 9 /j r 1 1 1 /3a /5a TE 2 "WH" "/60 /515 22 22d 22 i J //M 23a C 24b /5c /06 x 23 C 24: 5d 23 d 240 I l #2; /4:/ A A! /46 G /4 Patented March 14, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR Hume! Willow @Malihewl ATTORNE YS Patented March 14, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fialafi A/. (707%, 4/).

lNI ENTOR plume! MAW & Malflqe wl 14 TTOR N E YS BOARD GAME APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to a game apparatus comprising a playing board having paths of playing positions arranged thereon for play whereby groups of major and minor markers are moved from predetermined positions according to specific rules of play and according to the roll of a plurality of dice whereby each opponent seeks to arrange his players in specified positions in a check-circle surrounding a king to thereby checkmate the king and win the game.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many games in the prior art are governed by a rule of play which depends entirely on either skill or luck. For example, chess, checkers and chinese checkers do not include a chance factor and thus the outcome of the game depends on the relative skill of the players, whereas the play of other games is controlled solely by chance and little or no skill is involved. An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved game apparatus comprising a game board having a plurality of playing positions arranged thereon, groups of distinguishable playing pieces for each opponent and a plurality of dice wherein the roll of the dice dictates parameters of each plat but the actual move is selected according to the players skill.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved game apparatus comprising a game board having a plurality of playing positions or courses arranged thereon with a pair of parallel rows extending along both edges of the board and across each end thereof so as to extend around the perimeter of the playing board. A transverse row or path of playing positions connects the pairs of side rows to a checkcircle surrounding the central playing position occupied by the king and divides the side rows into each opponents respective playing area. Playing pieces or markers are provided for play on said playing positions according to a rule of play and also according to the roll of a pair of dice having indicia thereon relating to each of said parallel rows and said transverse row, respectively, and a die having numerical indicia thereon.

SUMMARY The present invention relates to a game apparatus comprising a playing board having a plurality of playing positions arranged in pairs of parallel rows extending around the perimeter of the board with a transverse row connecting said pairs of side rows with a check-circle consisting of a group of playing positions arranged around a central position on said transverse row and having groups of major and minor playing pieces or markers for each player for marking movement of play on the board according to a specific rule of play and according to a roll of three dice, two of which have indicia of the two perimeter rows and the single transverse row of playing positions and the third die having its sides numbered one to six respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the layout of the game board of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the plan view showing a color scheme for marking the rows of playing positions on the game board of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the single playing piece which occupies the center position on the game board;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a major playing piece of one players group FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a major playing piece for the other players group;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a minor playing piece for one players group;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a minor playing piece for the other players group; and

0 as13aand FIG. 8 is an isometric view of three dice included in the game apparatus of the present invention, two of which are colored to correspond to the rows of playing positions and third of which is numbered.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Briefly, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a game board designated generally G in the drawing which preferably is square or rectangular and which has playing positions arranged in parallel inner and outer rows or courses R and B respectively, extending around the perimeter of the game board G. A transverse path or row of playing positions W extends across the middle of the board and connects the side rows R and B with a group of playing positions or checkcircle C which encircles or surrounds a central playing position designated K with reserve playing positions D adjacent thereto. The playing pieces comprise a single king K which is positioned in the central playing position K throughout the game. Two groups of major and minor playing pieces or markers, referred to herein as knights N and pawns P, respectively, are provided for each of two players. The object of the game is to move the pawns in a series of successive moves from positions at the ends of the board along the side paths or courses R and B and thence along the transverse path W to the central positions C and there surround the king K to thus checkmate it and win the game. The knights N are normally positioned in the positions D adjacent the check-circle C to attack opponents pawns as they enter the check-circle.

Considering now the present invention in more detail, the outer perimeter row B is preferably colored blue, and the inner row R is preferably colored red and is adjacent to the outer row B. Such outer row B includes a base portion 13 comprising the positions 13a, 13b, 13c, 1311, etc., extending along the base of the board at one end, and a corresponding base portion 14 comprising positions 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, etc., at the opposite end of the board. Side portions 15 and 16 comprising playing positions 15a, lSb, 150, etc., and positions 16a, 16b, 16c, etc., extend respectively along the opposite sides of the game board G and connect the end or base portions 13 and 14. The inner course R which is preferably colored red, comprises base portions 21 and 22 and side portions 23 and 24, respectively. The base portions 21 and 22 include positions 21a, 21b, 210, etc., and positions 22a, 22b 22c, etc., respectively. Similarly, positions 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, etc., and 24a, 24b, 24c, etc., respectively, form the side portions 23 and 24. The positions comprising portions 21, 22, 23 and 24 are staggered or offset diagonally with regard to the playing positions forming the outer course or playing path B.

In the preferred form of this invention the playing positions are formed of holes or openings in the game board for receiving the markers or playing pieces N and P respectively. An

outer gold line 27 connects the openings in the outer row or path B and, similarly, an inner gold line 28 connects the openings in the inner course or row R. A zig-zag gold line 29 extends around the board and connects the staggered openings in the inner and outer rows R and B, respectively,

and also coinnects the adjacent openings in each corner such The transverse course or path W which is on the white portion of the board G, comprises openings 30a, 30b, 30c and 30d on one side of the check-circle C and openings 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d on the opposite side of such check-circle and connects the side rows of openings to such check-circle for moving pawns P therealong.

The check-circle C includes openings 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40e, etc., and the reserve position D comprises openings 42a, 42b, and 42:: adjacent thereto on one side of the transverse path W and 44a, 44b, and 44c on the opposite side of such transverse path W.

As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the king K preferably comprises a cylindrical piece or marker having a gold tip or top thereon for identification and, as indicated, occupies the central position K on the game board G throughout the play of the game.

The knights or major playing pieces N shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings comprise cylindrical members 48 and 49, respectively, which are marked or colored with red tops 50 and with black or white bands, 51 and 52, respectively, to identify or distinguish each players pieces. Such pieces N are normally positioned in the reverse stations or reserved spaces 42a, 42b and 420 and 44a, 44b and 440 from whence they may be moved into the check-circle C according to a throw of the dice as will be described in detail hereinafter.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate respective players minor playing pieces or pawns which are identified with white tips 53 and black tips 54, respectively, and which comprise shorter cylindrical pieces than the knights 48 and 49. Each player is normally provided with 25 pawns at the beginning of play and such pawns are arrayed in the base positions 13 and 22 at one end of the board and 14 and 21 at the other, with each players pawns being arrayed in the rows immediately in front of him.

Three dice shown in FIG. 8 are used to dictate the parameters of each move of play of each player. One die 60 is a normal die having six surfaces with dots from one to six on the respective surfaces. The other two dice 62 and 64 are identical, with each having one pair of opposite sides colored blue, one pair of opposite sides colored white and the third pair of opposite sides colored red. As shown in the drawings the side 62a of the die 62 is blue, the side 62b is red and the side 62c is white. Similarly, 64a is blue, 64b is red, and 64c is white.

In playing with the apparatus of the present invention the markers or playing pieces P may be moved from their base line positions along the side courses R and B either straight along the courses or in zig-zag direction back and froth form one course to the other, or in any combination of such moves so long as the route of play advances the pawn P in the direction from the base portion towards the transverse course W and thence toward the check-circle C. The color combination of the two dice 62 and 64 will dictate whether play may be initiated by a marker resting on either the red course R, the blue course B or the white course W.

The object of the game is to checkmate the king K by advancing the pawns P so as to occupy at least four stations or positions in the check-circle C, thus forming a square enclosing or surrounding the king K. The king K is merely symbolic and does not move, so that piece can be omitted from the board, if desired, and a suitable representation thereof may be located in the center instead of the hole K.

With the 25 pawns of each opponent, of different colors and/or shapes, preferably black and white, arranged along the base line portions 13, 14, 21 and 22 and with each opponents two knights, 48 and 49, respectively, positioned in two of the reserve positions 420, 42c and 4411, 44c, respectively, play is begun by one of the players rolling the three dice 60, 62 and 64. The numbered die 60 indicates the number of spaces that a piece may be moved in a given turn with only one piece beihg moved per turn. The pawns P are moved or advanced along the red and blue side courses R and B to the transverse row W and are moved across such transverse row to the check-circle C where they are positioned so as to surround the king K. In moving, pawns may proceed along the red course to the blue course and vice versa, advancing along the connecting lines 27, 28 or 29. Such pawns may move over a space or position occupied by a players own playing piece but must come to rest at the end of the move in an unoccupied position. A pawn or minor playing piece P may come to rest in a playing position occupied by an opponents playing piece, which effects a capture of the opponents playing piece. The capture moves are dictated by the particular color combination of the colored dice 62 and 64 as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The pawns P are not to be moved beyond the transverse course W along either side course R or B nor are such pawns to be moved beyond the checkcircle C once they have reached it by traversing either side of the transverse course W.

After reaching such check-circle C, the pawns P may move thereabout either in clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

The knights 48 and 49 are permitted to move only within the confines of the check-circle C and into or out of the reverse spaces 42a, 42b, 42c and 44a, 44b and 440. Although a knight N may capture an opponents pawn P in the check-circle C, the knights 48 and 49 cannot participate in the checkmate of king K. When a knight is in a reverse station 42a, 42b, etc., it is not susceptible to capture as the pawns may not enter the reserve stations. However, in the check-circle C, a knight N is subject to capture by either an opponents knight or pawn.

In playing on the game board of the present invention, the color combination of the dice 62 and 64 dictates the moves of the knights 48 and 49 and the pawns 53 and 54. Each player takes his turn throwing the dice and he moves his playing pieces only when he has made a throw. In the event the dice 62 and 64 show a combination of red and white on the top surfaces, the player throwing the dice may move any of his pawns P in the red course R to any position on the red course R or the blue course B, the transverse course W, or the circle C, so long as the terminal position is an unoccupied position. If one die is blue and another white, the player throwing the dice may move a pawn P in the blue row to any position on the blue or red course, the transverse course W, or the circle C, so long as the position is unoccupied. In moving the pawns P, a player may move his pawn P over a position occupied by another of his playing pieces and such position is included in counting the number of positions moved on that turn.

In the event both dice are red or both blue, the player moves one of his pawns P which is then in the course of the same color to any position on the blue row, red row, transverse row or circle. The pawn may capture an opponents pawn or knight in either the transverse course W or the check-circle C by having a move terminate in a position occupied by an opponents playing piece. However, it is not necessary that an opponents playing piece be captured on such move.

In the event both dice 62 and 64 show white, then any pawn in the transverse row W or the check-circle C may move the number of spaces indicated on the numbered die 60 and if an opponents pawn or knight is in the terminal position of the move, such pawn or knight may be captured. Also, when both dice are white, a players knight may be moved from its reserve position into the check-circle C and from there into another unoccupied reserve position where the knight must remain until a subsequent turn when both dice are white. During the period that the knight remains in the check-circle, it is subject to capture by an opponents pawn or knight. Also, in the event both dice 62 and 64 are white, then the player throwing the dice may pass a turn and not move any of his markers if he choses.

In the event one of the dice is red and the other is blue then no action is permitted, the turn is forfeited, and the dice are passed to the other player. Only one piece may be moved per play by each player, and the players alternate in throwing the dice. The game is won by one of the players when he succeeds in getting four of his pawns P in the checkcircle C in the form of a square or other predetermined arrangement. With the number of positions in the circle C preferably being eight, as shown in FIG. 1, a player would have to get four of his pawns in every other position of the circle C to win.

It will be appreciated that the individual playing positions may be indicated by marking off squares or other shaped places and that the pawns P and the knights N may be of other shapes suitable for manipulation on the game board G. Also, although it is preferable to use colors for the outer row B and the inner row R, shading or other marking may be used instead of colors, and corresponding markings are used on the dice 62 and 64.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A game apparatus comprising:

a game board having a playing area thereon including a plurality of playing positions arranged in a pair of adjacent perimeter rows in proximity to the perimeter of the board with each of said perimeter rows having visually distinguishable markings;

a transverse row of playing positions including a central group of playing positions, connecting opposite edge portions of the inner row of said pair adjacent rows;

at least two groups of minor playing pieces wherein the pieces comprising each group are distinguishable from the pieces of the other group and which are adapted to be initially disposed in said playing positions of said perimeter rows;

' at least two groups of major playing pieces wherein the pieces comprising each group are visually distinguishable from the minor playing pieces and from the major pieces of the other group and which are adapted to be positioned in said central group of playing positions; and

a plurality of dice including two dice, each having on different faces thereof different visually distinguishable markings corresponding to the visually distinguishable markings of said perimeter rows of playing positions and a die having on different faces thereof different conventional numerical indicia. 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein: each of said perimeter rows is arranged with a pair of parallel side rows and a pair of parallel end rows with said transverse row positioned midway between the end rows. 3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said perimeter rows are disposed in a rectangle around the outer edge of the game board.

4. The structure of claim 1, wherein: each playing position on one perimeter row is staggered with respect to positions on the other row so as to provide a zig-zag course on said board. 5. The structure of claim 1, wherein: the markings of said perimeter rows are of different colors; and said markings on said two dice are the colors of said perimeter row markings, with each of said two dice having two opposite sides with the color of one of said perimeter row markings and two other opposite sides with the color of the other of said perimeter row markings, and with the remaining opposite sides of a different color. 6. The structure of claim 1, wherein: said central group comprises a circle of playing positions and a plurality of playing positions which surround said circle of playing positions. 

1. A game apparatus comprising: a game board having a playing area thereon including a plurality of playing positions arranged in a pair of adjacent perimeter rows in proximity to the perimeter of the board with each of said perimeter rows having visually distinguishable markings; a transverse row of playing positions including a central group of playing positions, connecting opposite edge portions of the inner row of said pair adjacent rows; at least two groups of minor playing pieces wherein the pieces comprising each group are distinguishable from the pieces of the other group and which are adapted to be initially disposed in said playing positions of said perimeter rows; at least two groups of major playing pieces wherein the pieces comprising each group are visually distinguishable from the minor playing pieces and from the major pieces of the other group and which are adapted to be positioned in said central group of playing positions; and a plurality of dice including two dice, each having on different faces thereof different visually distinguishable markings corresponding to the visually distinguishable markings of said perimeter rows of playing positions and a die having on different faces thereof different conventional numerical indicia.
 2. The structure of claim 1, wherein: each of said perimeter rows is arranged with a pair of parallel side rows and a pair of parallel end rows with said transverse row positioned midway between the end rows.
 3. The structure of claim 1, wherein said perimeter rows are disposed in a rectangle around the outer edge of the game board.
 4. The structure of claim 1, wherein: each playiNg position on one perimeter row is staggered with respect to positions on the other row so as to provide a zig-zag course on said board.
 5. The structure of claim 1, wherein: the markings of said perimeter rows are of different colors; and said markings on said two dice are the colors of said perimeter row markings, with each of said two dice having two opposite sides with the color of one of said perimeter row markings and two other opposite sides with the color of the other of said perimeter row markings, and with the remaining opposite sides of a different color.
 6. The structure of claim 1, wherein: said central group comprises a circle of playing positions and a plurality of playing positions which surround said circle of playing positions. 